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Togo - Environment

Togo is located in West Africa on the Guinea Coast. At latitudes of 6-12°N, the climate of Togo is tropical, and strongly influenced by the West African Monsoon. The rainfall seasons of Togo are controlled by the movement of the tropical rain belt, which oscillates between the northern and southern tropics over the course of a year. In northern Togo, there is a single wet season occurring between May and November, when the ITCZ is in its northern position and the prevailing wind is south-westerly, and a dry season between December and March when the ‘Harmattan’ wind blows north-easterly.

In contrast to the rest of West Africa, which is divided into an arid Savannah type northern zone and a wet tropical southern zone, a quirk of geography has made Lome and the coastal region drier than its immediate hinterland. Seasonal rains fall more in the central and northern parts of Togo (excepting the extreme north), blessing the capital with an operational climate superior to neighboring centers because few days are lost through closures for rain.

The seasonal rainfall in this region varies considerably on inter-annual and inter-decadal timescales, due in part to variations in the movements and intensity of the ITCZ, and variations in timing and intensity of the West African Monsoon. The most well documented cause of these variations is the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). El Niño events are associated with drier conditions in West Africa. Seasonal variations in temperature in Togo are greatest in the north, with highest temperatures in the hot, dry season at 27-32°C, and lowest at 25-27°C. Further south, temperatures reach up to 27-32°C in the warmest season, and 22-25°C at their lowest.

Togo's climate varies from tropical to savanna. The southern part of the country is humid, with temperatures ranging from 23° C to 32°C. In the north, temperature fluctuations are greater—from 18°C to more than 38°C. Rainfall in the south of the country comes in the form of two seasons (the first between April and July and the second between September and November). The dry desert winds of the Hamattan blow south between November to March, bringing cooler, drier weather, and periodic droughts to the north of the country.

According to the National Adaptation Programme of Action, a shift in the rainy season has been observed, which can begin up to 30 days later than usual. When there is a delay, the rainy season is punctuated by waves of drought, which interrupt crop growth. Likewise, heat waves are now common in all regions of the country with significant consequences on livelihoods and natural resources. Togo's mean annual temperature has increased by 1.1°C since 1960, an average rate of 0.24°C per decade. The rate of increase has been most rapid in the northern regions between April-June, around 0.31°C per decade.

Climate change is projected to increase the frequency, magnitude, and intensity of floods and associated landslides. Togo has increased its vulnerability to landslides in the past decades as more erosion and unsustainable deforestation and agriculture of marginal areas persist. Future events could be even more damaging without effective disaster risk reduction and adaptation measures in place.

Drought events occur most frequently in the Kara and Savannah regions, where each year temperatures reach above 40°C. Over the past 60 years, Togo has experienced three major droughts (between 1942-1943, 1976-1977, and 1982-1983) leading to severe famines. Droughts are characterized by a progressive increase in temperature, a decline in rainfall events, a reduction in the number of rainy days, and a shift in the ratio of rainfall to potential evapotranspiration. In addition to direct environmental impacts, such as soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, the socio-economic consequences of these events include a reduction in agricultural yields, death of livestock, reduction in agricultural revenue, an increase in rural to urban migration, exacerbation of famine, and an upsurge in water- and vector-borne diseases.

Agriculture, which supports the vast majority of the population has suffered in recent years due to adverse climatic conditions. Togo's climate varies from tropical to savanna. The main climate risks facing Togo are violent winds, coastal erosion, poor distribution of rain, and late rains, with flooding and drought remaining the greatest threats. Highly vulnerable to climate variations, Togo’s agriculture sector constitutes 43% of GDP and is the mainstay of most Togolese livelihoods. Agriculture will remain the mainstay of economic growth for the foreseeable future, with staple crops being yams, cassava, corn, millet, sorghum, cocoa, coffee, rice, and cotton.

If recent trends continue, future agricultural supplies will not be enough to meet demands and reduce poverty. According to a recent WFP survey, 71.1% of Togolese are vulnerable to food insecurity. This is a result of low agricultural capacities and high reliance on increasingly erratic weather conditions, low productivity stemming from use of inadequate technologies, insufficient access to inputs (i.e. fertilizers and pesticides), lack of pest control, and major shortfalls in agricultural processing.

Floods inundate fertile land, kill livestock, destroy standing crops, and reduce or eliminate yields. Corn and millet in particular–the main food staple of many Togolese – will suffer reduction in yields. Unless inputs are provided and opportunities arising from projected changes in climate are capitalized upon, not only will yields drop but prices of staples will rise. Climate change is projected to bring about a shift of seasons accompanied by a reduction of humid periods, a rise in evapotranspiration, and drying of soils. A majority of humid soils where rice and sugar cane are cultivated will become drier, while projected changes in floods and droughts suggest a reduction in rainfed maize production by 2025. In monetary terms this is the equivalent to a loss of $USD 12–24 billion. As the price of maize continues to rise, these losses stand to significantly impact Togo.

Togo’s 60 km coastline is vulnerable to projected changes in sea level, which will severely affect the critical coastal ecosystem. Sea-level rise is expected to raise the level of lagoons and lakes along the coast and contribute to the salinization of lagoons and Lake Togo, with dire consequences not only for coastal ecosystems but also causing riverbed flooding, increased saltwater intrusion, and exacerbated coastal erosion. Already, coastal erosion measurements put the average loss of coastline to 5 m/year; this is mainly due to hydroelectric and port infrastructure developments, but is certain to be exacerbated by climate, to the tune of 10 m/year. Along the eastern section of Lomé harbor, an annual erosion rate of 20 m has been recorded. Close to 500,000 people live in precarious settlements along Togo’s coast and their livelihoods are set to be severely compromised by changes in sea level. Coastal zones are also home to over 90% of Togo’s economic activities.